The long delayed local government elections will be run off on Friday, March 18^th, 2016 Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan announced this morning.

Bulkan made the announcement at a news conference.

The polls, which will be held in the nine towns and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), have not been held since 1994, although the constitution stipulates that they are to be held every three years.

Setting the date for the early holding of the polls had been one of the pledges made by the APNU+AFC coalition for its first 100 days in office. The coalition government had initially indicated that it wanted the polls to be held before the end of the year.

A statement issued today by the Minister of Communities follows:

Ladies and gentlemen, this is an important time in our history; your government has recently declared that Guyanese will have the opportunity to democratically elect Councillors to manage towns and neighbourhoods.

Elections are important because they are a democratic constitutional right. They are essential because the entire local government system is currently rotten and must be rehabilitated and made fully functional. Democratic renewal of local government organs is long overdue.

Local government is about handing decision-making power to the people to enable them to efficiently and effectively manage their communities. With these facts in mind, I am pleased to inform you that local government elections will be conducted on March 18, 2016.

Ø  A functioning local government system is a fundamental aspect of democratic governance. It is important because it deals with people’s lives in their communities. Strong local government is at the heart of national development because who wields decision-making power at the Municipal and neighbourhood levels directly determine and decide where and how your tax dollars will be used to develop individual communities and ultimately, the nation. Development at every level, depends on a strong system of good, democratic, effective and efficient local governance.

Ø  Article 12 of the Constitution states, “Local government by freely elected representatives of the people is an integral part of the democratic organisation of the State.” As a democratic administration committed to the rule of law, your government, therefore is obligated and committed to holding LGE.

Ø  Local governments are mandated by law to provide many essential services such as, improving living conditions, creating jobs in the various local areas, maintaining roads, bridges and other important infrastructure, garbage collection, cleaning of drains, promoting a healthy environment and encouraging citizen involvement in their communities. As Guyanese who have been living without a functioning local government system, we can all attest to the necessity of restoring and repairing the dysfunctional system which currently exists, since we have experienced the results of the collapse of local government systems.

Ø  Article 74 0f the Constitution says, “It shall be the primary duty of local democratic organs to ensure in accordance with law the efficient management and development of their areas and provide leadership by example.” Article 75 states that, “Parliament shall provide that local democratic organs shall be autonomous…” The administration is committed to giving effect to all laws including those articles of our Constitution. Your government commits itself to empowering local democratic organs to carry out their mandate as stated in Articles 74 and 75 by replacing the heavy fist of central government interference with the open hand of positive, helpful intervention to assist local bodies to do their work effectively. In other words, the relationship between central and local government must, and will, be altered and corrected in accordance with constitutional provisions.

Ø  Government at the grassroots level – local government – was embedded in Guyana’s system of political administration on Tuesday the 5^th of August, 1980, when the Local Democratic Organs Bill was passed in the National Assembly. On that historic day, then Vice-President Hoyte said, “…the purpose of the current bill is to revolutionize the local government system.” He further said, … “the new Constitution identifies the local government system as the foundation of the democratic organization of the State and to enable the massive involvement of the people in the task of managing their communities and developing the areas in which they live.” This system of grassroots-democracy was therefore bequeathed to us since 1980, but was, unfortunately, never properly implemented as it was intended to be. Today we have the opportunity to transform Guyana by following the letter and spirit of the Constitution.

Ø  The legislation governing local government organs was further strengthened following the local government reform process initiated in the aftermath of the 1997 general elections and the ensuing menu of measures accompanying the Herdmanston Accord. The five new pieces of legislation are:

Ø  Act # 26 of 2009 – LOCAL AUTHORITIES (ELECTIONS) (AMENDMENT) ACT 2009

Ø  Act # 15 of 2013 – MUNICIPAL AND DISTRICT COUNCILS (AMENDMENT) ACT 2013

Ø  Act # 16 of 2013 – FISCAL TRANSFERS ACT 2013

Ø  Act # 18 of 2013 – LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION ACT 2013

Ø  Act # 5 of 2015 – LOCAL GOVERNMENT (AMENDMENT) ACT 2015

Ø  When we elect new local leaders on March 18, 2016, we will be making a break with the ways of the past; the new leaders will not just replace the old ones. The new, democratically elected officials will be empowered according to law, and they will be expected to perform their decision-making roles, according to law. They will not be subject to domination and control by central government.

Ø  The newly elected local leaders will have power to make decisions that affect citizens living within the respective Municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, it is therefore important that each eligible voter casts a ballot, according to his or her conscience. If you do not vote, other people will choose local government officials without your input.

Ø  I invite everyone to ponder on these important matters which will determine Guyana’s direction of development for the next three years.

Inform yourselves of what

each candidate has to offer –

listen to all of them – then,

cast your ballot based on the issues.

Let us put the past behind us

and move forward to a better life

for all residents within our respective communities.